Friday, December 9, 2011 - 5
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
THEATER PREVIEW
'Little Women,' big show
at Arthur Miller Theatre
In "The Beaux' Stratagem," two gentlemen decide to find wealthy ladies to marry.
Golddiggin with
wigs in 'Stratagem
MT&D puts on
Restoration-era
play this weekend
By ANNA SADOVSKAYA
Daily Arts Writer
Full of amusing mishaps and
comical characters, "The Beaux'
Stratagem" comes to the Power
Center's stage
this weekend. The Beaux'
The play's sur-
prising plot
twists and Tonight and
relatable sto- tomorrow
rylines provide at 8 p.m.
the audience and Sunday
with anew look at2p.m.
at period pieces
and their reviv- Power Center
al. From $9
Originally
writtenin1707byIrish playwright
George Farquhar, the story was
an instant-success. Under Crom-
well's rule during the Puritan
S regime, stage performances were
banned. Like other Restoration
pieces - plays performed after
the ban was lifted - "The Beaux'
Stratagem" evokes the fervor of
the English dramatic renaissance
that followed the oppression.
Priscilla Lindsay, chair of the
Department of Theatre & Drama
and director of the show, said the
ostensibly aged piece will still be
relevant to audiences because
of its intended viewership when
originally performed.
"What were the issues back
then, what are the issues now?"
Lindsay asked. "These types of
plays, Restoration pieces, were
written for the common man,
instead of court. Issues such as
sex, money and relationships
were all really important."
These themes, which were
present in the inaugural produc-
tion, translate to the adaptation
begun by Thornton Wilder ("Our
Town") in 1939 and finished by
Ken Ludwig ("Lend Me a Tenor")
in early 2005.
Thisversion of the show, which
is used by the School of Music,
Theatre & Dance, follows two
young gentlemen who decide to
take their last bit of money and
put it to practical and comical use
- finding wealthy ladies to marry.
Their plansgo awry almost imme-
diately.
This adaptation, though hon-
eat to the original script, gives the
show new breath and meaning in
this day and age.
"(Ludwig) adapted it for mod-
ern times," Lindsay said. "He
cleared away the cobwebs and
took away jokes that we don't care
about or get anymore. It is very
accessible for us today."
Reed Campbell, an MT&D
senior who plays Boniface, the
landlord of the Boniface Inn, said
he thinks that despite antiquated
dress and speech, the show holds
onto what's vital.
"The thing about good theater
is you can name any play that you
like and you're going to find that
the majority of it you can take, put
it in (the context of) today, and it
will still be relevant," Campbell
said.
Characters like Boniface keep
the show moving quickly, making
it fast-paced and engaging,Lind-
say said.
"As the plot starts to unravel,
a new character comes and -
boom! - something else happens,
or a new piece of information is
learned and things change," she
said. "There's a character named
Lady Bountiful, the mother of
one of the girls (seduced by the
beaux), and she fancies herself a
physician, only she kills as many
as she cures."
Campbell said he believes the
unanticipated twists are what
make the show slapstick and
bawdy - a refreshing version of
theater, unlike the minimalistic
and contemporary acting that
rules stages today.
"There's alot of physical com-
edy, which is awesome because in
this day and age modern acting is
really small, contemporary and
truthful," Campbell said. "But
this is really over-the-top, and
while it's all set in reality there are
big, bold jokes."
By DHRUV MADEKA
Daily Arts Writer
This weekend, the Department
of Musical Theatre will portray
the epic saga of a family mired in
the turmoil of
the Civil War
in its latest pro- L
duction of the Women
musical "Little
Women." Tonight and
The show tomorrow
is based on at 8 p.m.,
Louisa May tomorrow
Alcott's famous and Sunday
novel, which at 2 p.m.
was published Arthur Miller
in two parts in Theatre
1868 and 1869.
It follows the From $10
lives of four
New England sisters - Jo, Meg,
Beth and Amy - as they encoun-
ter the difficulties of life and love
while dealing with the burden of
a father whose life is in constant
jeopardyin the war.
The musical resembles the
book, with some details excluded
by time constraints. The original
production had a run on Broad-
way in 2005 and featured School
of Music, Theatre & Dance alum
Danny Gurwin as Laurie. Gur-
win, who is directing this MT&D
production, will share his knowl-
edge of the show's intricacies
with the student actors he directs.
"Besides being an energetic
and enthusiastic director, he
really loves the piece because
he's been with it through many,
many incarnations," said MT&D
senior Ali Gordon, who plays
the youngest March sister, Amy.
"He's taken his knowledge of all
(his) productions ... and he's sort
of brought them all to the table at
this one great production of 'Lit-
"Little Women" originally ran on Broadway in 2005.
tle Women."'
Though "Little Women" is
characterized by the ubiquitous
themes of family, loyalty and
love, Alcott did not portray these
themes from a masculine angle,
but rather from the viewpoint of
the oldest March sister, Jo. The
author, who Gordon describes as
a "proto-feminist," allowed her
female characters to make their
own choices rather than depend-
ing on the wishes of the men in
their lives.
Older women may relate to the
struggle of the mother Marmee,
who attempts to raise her chil-
dren in the absence of her hus-
band, and younger siblings may
connect to the troubles of Amy,
as everything she owns is handed
down to her from her older sisters.
"It's still read so widely today
and adapted so widely into
musicals and operas and movies
because people see these rela-
tionships and find that they mir-
ror their own lives so truthfully,"
said Gordon. "I still see some of
myself in this young girl."
MT&D junior Jane Bruce said
the show's theme of family gives it
a timeless nature.
"Ultimately that's what we all
come from, and always have," she
said.
Bruce, who plays Jo, said
she was able to draw parallels
between her character and col-
lege students like herself.
Broadway cast
member directs.
"(Students) are dealing with
the struggles of love and finding
your passions in life," Bruce said.
"And how you decide what to do
and finding that balance between
being independent and living the
life you always wanted to live and
stayingtrue toyour roots.
"It's something I know, in col-
lege, I've certainly battled with
and tried to figure out in the same
way Jo has."
A magical modern fairy tale
CONCERT PR EVIWW
'U' musical couple to
perform at Kerrytown
By LAURA KAYE always wished to record.
Daily Arts Writer Though Bolcom and Morris
said they had not yet finalized
A young actress living in the their playlist, they added that the
C Big Apple was introduced to a program will combine various
classical musician who played musical genres, including a range
ragtime as of turn-of-the-century pieces as
well. They well as a satirical Tom Lehrer
had immedi- Ct W Be Christmas carol.
ate chemistry Friends? They discussed a piece by
- their hearts Argentinean songwriter Carlos
S beat to the Tomorrow Gardel that they might perform.
same rhythm at 8 p.m. Bolcom translated and arranged
and soon after- Kerrytown the cabaret song.
ward, their Concert House "The song is sort of a dump
everlasting From $5 on political nastiness of the
partnership times and the more I think of it,
was born. it is the same now - nothing has
William Bolcom and Joan changed." Morris sad. "In our
Morris form one of the most song, we replaced the kind of
celebrated American husband- similar people in Gardel's time
and-wife musical teams. School in Argentina with Bernie Madoff
of Music, Theatre & Dance Pro- and Glenn Beck, and the ponzi
fessor Emeritus Bolcom was the scheme."
recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Cabaret is one of the duo's sig-
music and the winner of many nature styles - they will pres-
Grammy awards for his work. ent some French cabaret songs
He accompanies mezzo-soprano sung by Aristide Bruant, the man
Morris, an MT&D faculty mem- who appears sketched in many
ber who has appeared in off- of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec's
Broadway productions and at Moulin Rouge posters. Morris
various Manhattan venues. Their explained that relative to other
upcoming recital at Kerrytown genres, cabaret is more direct,
Concert House, "Can't We Be and it has a personal musical style
Friends?," is one of many home- derived from the smoky French
town appearances for the Ann cafes in which women would
Arbor-based duo. dress in salacious costumes to
Many of the couple's recorded dance the can-can.
albums are centered on a single Morris was first an actress and
composer or theme. For this per- then a singer. As a result, when
formance, they will showcase she picks up a piece of music she
many of their most beloved tunes not only ponders the meaning of
that they never were able to but the lyrics, but she also creates
miniature plays out of each song
to evoke a certain story for the
audience.
Contrary to the presence she
evokes on stage, Morris said she
is actually a very shy person.
But being an actress gave her an
opportunity to be something else
and hide behind an alter ego. This
gave her the confidence to go
on stage and perform in front of
crowds.
Bolcom and
Morris are both
MT&D faculty
members.
"Oscar Wilde once said, 'If
you want a man to tell the truth,
give him a mask,'" Morris said.
"It is not that I become someone
else - I find it within myself. It is
something I work with in order
to figure out how I'm goingto tell
the story."
Bolcom said Morris's experi-
ence is similar to a song the duo
has recorded, "Tamara, Queen
of the Nile." The song is about
a young woman who is a school
teacher by day, but go-go dancer
by night.
That idea of transformation
will be in full effect as these
two University faculty members
morph into versatile entertainers.
By PROMA KHOSLA
Daily TV/New Media Editor
Fairy tales are the new super-
heroes. Just as it was impossible
to emerge from
the last decade * *g
without swing-
ing around Once Upon
New York on
spiderwebs or a Time
coping with an Season One
Adamantium Midseason
skeleton, it
will be hard to Sundaysati8p.m.
weather 2012 ABC
without a few
brushes with creatures of fanci-
ful folklore.
Beginning Hollywood's fairy-
tale revival is ABC's "Once Upon
A Time," which - seven episodes
in - has finally found the spark
that characterizes the classic tales
it draws from.
It's hard to discuss "Once Upon
a Time" without acknowledging
the clear influence of creators
Edward Kitsis and Adam Horow-
itz's prior work on a little show
called "Lost." There are Easter
eggs in every episode, like a clock
stuck at 8:15 and house numbered
108. For still-mourning Losties,
there are even more obscure ref-
erences, including Apollo bars
and MacCutcheon whiskey, not
to mention a guest appearance by
Alan Dale. Widmore, you limey
bastard.
The writers also borrow that
series' successful narrative ele-
ments, like the format: Each
episode is a character study,
unfolding in two universes -
real life and the fantasy realm.
The most engrossing part so far
is the ongoing romantic tension
between Snow White/Mary Mar-
garet (Ginnifer Goodwin, "Some-
thing Borrowed") and Prince
Charming/David (Josh Dallas,
"Thor"). Their story connects
more to the overarching plot of
fairy-tale characters defeating
an evil queen, while figures like
Jiminy Cricket/Archie (Raphael
Sbarge, "CSI") and Cinderella/
who-the-eff-are-you add little to
the storyline.
The make-believe realm in
"Once Upon A Time" is a con-
glomeration of traditional tropes.
"I've never seen seven dwarves do that betore."
The evil queen (Lana Parrilla, from the authenticity of the origi-
"Swingtown") embodies every nal texts. Otherwise, the visuals
unnamed female antagonist, with are satisfactory enough that their
a lot more savvy and a tad more limitations can be overlooked -
cleavage. That regular cross- after all, this isn't HBO. As for
overs like Cinderella (Jessica Sch- the writing, a little modern adap-
ram, "Unstoppable") and Snow tation doesn't go amiss. In one
White are friends and attend a instance, Snow White sardonical-
ball together is difficult to digest ly refers to her new acquaintance
at first, but now blends into this as "Prince Charming." "I have a
modern take on fairy tales. name, you know," he retortsdryly.
Jennifer Morrison, finally
believable as a blonde now that
H i ev she's out of Princeton-Plains-
F e e boro Teaching Hospital, initially
so far. played the only character with
which the audience could sym-
pathize. She does cynicism well
as Snow White's daughter, Emma
Snow White started out too Swan, and since she doesn't have
simpering and wistful to be lik- a fantasy alter ego, she roots the
able, but she shows a surprisingly series in reality. She has a believ-
Robin Hood-esque streak of bad- able rapport with her biological
assery by climbing trees, picking son Henry (Jared Gilmore, "Mad
pockets and making shady deals Men") and though she's the pro-
withtrolls.It'sasmartmoveonthe tagonist, she doesn't steal the
writers' part to update the-outdat- show away from others.
ed damsel-in-distress model. Par- At first it was easy to be skep-
rilla is far more intimidating as the tical about whether or not "Once
malicious mayor than as the evil Upon a Time" could succeed with
queen. That might be why she's its premise. In the pilot, Emma
all over Storybrook, manipulat- tells Henry, "Just because you
ing and blackmailing everyone in believe something doesn't make
sight, yet seldom seen in the story- it true." Maybe, but humans have
book world. That realm is master- an incurable tendency to try and
fully puppeted by the deliciously prove otherwise. Now a third of
creepy Rumplestiltskin (Robert the way through its first season,
Carlyle, "The Full Monty"), with the show is pulling strong ratings
just a hint of a Scottish accent. (Is and respect from critics. That ini-
that you, Desmond?) tial skepticism has turned into a
A clear effort is made to ready fervent desire to believe in these
the characters for the modern characters and step out of real-
day and age, but details like Snow ity every week. And isn't that the
White's French manicure detract point of fairy tales?